MAJOR EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
The activities in these pages can help you to increase knowledge/awareness about yourself.
These are activities that you can use, as you see fit, to assist you with your exploration of majors and
careers. You do not have to complete all of these activities because not all activities work for every
student. It is recommended that you complete the activities that you feel are relevant to you and discuss
your results with your adviser.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING YOUR MAJOR, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT YOU REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:
You are not choosing what you have to do for the rest of your life!!!!
Generally, there isn’t a 1-1 relationship between major and career. Many graduates have jobs that are
NOT directly related to their major, which means you can major in just about anything, and in most cases,
go into just about any career as a result. You can enhance your employability by getting career-related
experience while in school.
There is no “perfect” or “right” major…just some that you’ll be more satisfied with
than others.
Which also means that there is no “wrong” major either. Realize that there are likely five or six possible
majors, from the numerous options available at PSU, with which you would be very satisfied. The aim is
to find and choose one of those possible majors.
There is no magical test that will tell you what you should choose.
Yes, there are career tests you can take, and yes, they can be helpful in determining possible career
options, but they won’t provide all of the answers for you.
Choosing a major is a COLLABORATIVE process and it takes time. You and your adviser will be involved
in helping each other to make this process enjoyable, fun and educational for you.
Your adviser looks forward to having a conversation with you. Please call 503 725 4005 to set up a
meeting.
Happy Exploration!
Advising and Career Services, Portland State University
www.pdx.edu/advising-career-services
Why am I undecided?
Before you can choose a major, it is important to know the reasons you are undecided and just how
undecided you are about a major, or even a career. Below are a few examples. Be honest about YOUR
reasons for being undecided. List the reasons in the space provided.
Here are just a few examples why some students claim to be undecided:
 I don’t want to make the “wrong” choice.
 I don’t know what information or options
are out there
 I don’t have an interest in any area of
study.
 I have too many interests and can’t
narrow down your options.
 I am not ready to commit to a choice.
 I have a career chosen, but do not know
which majors are best for that career.
What are your reasons?
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What am I interested in?
This activity is very simple and will assist you with putting some thoughts down on paper. Place a
“” next to each of the items below that you feel best describe your preferences and interests.
 I prefer to be doing physical activities.
 I like to build things.
 I like to work on/with mechanical things.
 I like to work with my hands.
 I like to do clerical/office tasks.
 I like to work with detailed things.
 I like to see how things work.
 I like to create and make things.
 I like to come up with ideas.
 I would like to use my creativity.
 I would like to work with animals.
 I prefer to work with children.
 I like to investigate.
 I like to do research.
 I like being able to help others.
 I would prefer to travel.
 I prefer to be outdoors.
 I prefer to be in an office.
 I prefer to have a neat and orderly
workplace.
 I prefer to have a set, planned out
schedule.
 I prefer to do things my own way.
 I want to have defined, structured tasks.
 I like to be a follower, rather than a
leader.
 I like to take risks.
 I like change.
 I prefer to be doing many different
things.
 I want to be in a competitive working
environment.
 I prefer to work closely with people.
 I want freedom and few rules.
 I prefer to be independent.
 I want to work in a very cooperative
environment.
 I prefer leadership positions.
 I want to be in charge, or in control.
 I like working in groups.
 I prefer working with just a small group
of people.
 I would rather work by myself than with
a group.
 I prefer to work closely with others.
 I prefer to start projects by myself.
 I enjoy explaining things to others.
 I am genuinely concerned for others.
 I like to come up with solutions to
problems.
 I like the challenge of making money.
 I like to procrastinate.
 I like it when things get finished.
 I like to prepare things ahead of time.
 I am a perfectionist.
 I like communicating.
 I like writing.
 I enjoy debating issues.
 I like the medical sciences.
 I like math.
 I like science.
Look at the items you have marked. Do you see some common themes in the items you’ve
marked? What are those? If your preferences are not on the list above, add them here.
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Why do you believe these are of interest to you? Can you give any examples of experiences
you’ve had that have influenced why you marked these items?
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Take a look at the items you have not marked. Can you think of the reasons why these are not of
interest to you?
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Do the items you’ve marked disagree with each other? What are those items?
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What subjects do I enjoy?
Take a moment to reflect upon those subjects that you have completed both in high school and in
college up to this point. List the subjects/courses you really enjoyed taking in the left column.
What was it about those courses that you enjoyed or liked?
Subjects/Courses you enjoyed or found an interest in:
Ability (1-10)
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Rate your abilities in those subjects from 1-10 (10 being the highest) in the right column above.
Do you need to improve your skills and abilities to be successful in these courses?
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List below those subjects/courses in which you were bored, frustrated, confused, and/or did not
like.
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What majors are on my list?
Cross out those majors on the following list that you know you would never consider. Or, circle
the ones in which you feel you have some level of interest. Or, do both. The point is to make the
potential list of majors manageable.
Are the majors you’ve circled related/ different to one another?
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_________________
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College of Urban &
Public Affairs
Civic Leadership (Minor)
Community Development*
Criminology and Criminal
Justice* (Certificate)
Health Studies
Aging Services*
Community Health Education*
Health Sciences
Physical Activity/Exercise
School Health
Law and Legal Studies
(Minor)
Political Science*
Real Estate Development
(Minor)
Sustainable Urban
Development (Minor)
The College of Arts
Architecture*
Art History*
Art Practices
Creative Industries Studies
(Minor)
Drawing/Painting/Printmaking
Graphic Design*
Sculpture (Minor)
Dance (Minor)
Design Management (Minor)
Film
Jazz Studies (Minor)
Music*
Music: Composition*
Music: Education*
Music: History (Minor)
Music: Jazz*
Music: Voice*
Music Performance
Theater Arts*
School of Social
Work
Child and Family Studies
Social Work
Maseeh College of
Engineering &
Computer Science
Biomedical Informatics
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science*
Electrical Engineering*
Environmental Engineering*
Mechanical Engineering
School of Business
Administration
Business Administration
Accounting
Accounting (Post-Bac
Certificate)
Advertising Management*
Business Administration
(Minor)
Finance
Food Industry Management
(Certificate)
Human Resources
Management
International Business
Studies (Certificate)
Management and Leadership
Marketing
Real Estate Finance
Supply and Logistics
Management
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences
Anthropology*
Applied Linguistics*
Arts & Letters
Biology*
Biology: Botany
Biology: Micro/Molecular
Biology: Organismal
Black Studies* (Certificate)
Chemistry*
Chemistry: Biochemistry
Chicano/Latino Studies
(Certificate)
Classical Studies (Minor)
Communication Studies*
Conflict Resolution
Earth Science
Economics*
Elementary Education (Minor)
English*
Environmental Geology
(Minor)
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Studies*
Film Studies (Minor)
Advanced Proficiency in
Russian (Certificate)
Arabic*
Chinese*
French*
German*
Italian (Minor)
Japanese*
Russian*
Spanish*
Turkish (Minor)
Geography*
Graphical Information
Systems (Minor)
Geology*
History*
History and Philosophy of
Science (Minor)
International Economics
(Minor)
International Studies*
African Studies
Canadian Studies (Certificate)
East Asian Studies
European Studies
European Studies (Certificate)
International Development
Latin American Studies
(Certificate)
Middle Eastern Studies
(Certificate)
Judaic Studies*
Liberal Studies
Mathematics*
Native American Studies
(Minor)
Philosophy*
Photography (Minor)
Physics*
Physics: Biomedical
Physics: Environmental
Political Economy (Minor)
Psychology*
Religious Studies (Minor)
Revitalizing Endangered
Indigenous Languages
(Certificate)
Science
Secondary Education (Minor)
Sexuality, Gender and Queer
Studies (Minor)
Social Science
Sociology*
Space and Planetary Science
(Minor)
Special Education (Minor)
Speech and Hearing Science
Sustainability (Minor)
Teaching English as a
Second Language
(Certificate)
Teaching Japanese as a
Foreign Language
(Certificate)
Women’s Studies*
(Certificate)
Writing (Minor)
What skills do I have?
Mark skills you are good at and rate your skill level on a scale of 1-5 (5 being highest) for each of
the following abilities listed below.
5 – Highly Skilled
4 – Skilled
3 – Intermediate
 inspiring trust and confidence
 motivating others
 guiding the activities of others
 working effectively with individuals
and groups
 planning and organizing
 understanding emotional and
educational needs of others
 communicating verbally
 maintaining order, resolving
differences, anticipating and
preventing problems
 gathering information
 presenting information in a manner
that holds attention
 adapting and presenting information
to different learning styles
 accurately assessing progress of
individuals or programs
 communicating effectively in writing
 managing multiple tasks
 working alone
 solving problems
 identifying important issues
 integrating a variety of concepts
 being organized
 understanding how political and
social contexts affect behavior
 attention to details
 self-motivated
 analyzing information and situations
 thinking critically
 designing
 taking initiative
 being patient
 being dependable
 being understanding
2 – Low Skill
1 – No Skill
 speaking effectively in front of
groups
 creating policy
 advocating for others
 operating machinery
 investigating
 using space effectively
 making well-informed decisions
 being self-disciplined
 working under stressful conditions
 serving others
 interacting with people from different
backgrounds
 building, making things
 leading others
 being reliable
 using diplomacy
 taking responsibility
 understanding physical needs of
others
 assisting others in their growth/
development
 helping others through stressful
times
 using time effectively
 effectively listening
 working with numbers
 using technology
 persuading others
 being inventive
 persevering
 being versatile and able to adapt
 dealing with conflict
 confronting others
 facilitating discussion
 creating or composing
 performing
 debating with others
 selling ideas, goods, or services
 being flexible to change
 understanding all sides of an issue
If you have skills that you feel you are good at and are not on the list above, be sure to list them
and rate your ability.
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Review the list, what are your highest rated skills?
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Why do you feel these are highest?
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Which skills do you wish you could improve upon or learn?
Why do you feel you should improve on these particular skills?
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What do I value?
Using the scale below, rank the following statements:
5 – Very High Importance
2 – Very Low Importance
4 – High Importance
1 – No Importance
3 – Some Importance
Values that relate to your work environment
 Risk/Adventure: Your responsibilities at work often include taking chances
 Creativity: You have the chance to create or come up with new ideas
 Challenges: You will be faced with challenges, situations to resolve, and/or problems to
solve
 High Paced: Your environment is highly active
 Autonomy: You have much independence in your position
 Change: Being in an environment where change occurs often, or where you have to
adapt to new circumstances
 Variety: Your responsibilities are varied, allowing for many different experiences
 Authority: Your job gives you the opportunity to be the person who makes decisions
 Competitive: You compete with others in your work environment
 Physical: Your responsibilities include tasks that require physical action
 Money-Making: You have the opportunity to make increasingly large amounts of money
 Leadership: Your responsibilities include supervising others in your environment
 Secure: There is a low likelihood of you losing your job
 Pressure: Your work environment includes many situations in which you are under
pressure to perform job responsibilities well or on time
 Predictable: Your responsibilities are predictable and are not likely to change often
 Flexible: You control your schedule and work nonstandard hours according to your needs
Values that relate to your personal interests
 Specialized: In your environment, you are considered an expert in your area
 Recognition/Value: You are appreciated, recognized and valued for your work
 Knowledge Seeking: Your job promotes or encourages the pursuit of knowledge and
understanding
 Location: Your job is located in an environment that is comfortable
 Morality: Your work involves tasks that encourage moral standards important to you
 Community: Your job is located where you feel you can get connected and/or involved in
the community
 Professional Growth: Your position has good opportunities to move up the career ladder
Values that relate to the people in your environment
 Friendships/Relationships: In your environment, having strong friendships with your coworkers is important
 Helping: Your responsibilities include helping others
 Connection: You feel connected to the organization for which you work
 Control/Power: Your job gives you the chance to control others or their activities
 Contact: Your environment encourages a lot of interaction with others
 Isolation: Your environment allows you to spend most of your time working alone
 Societal Importance: Your job impacts society in positive ways
Next, take a moment to review your ratings, and list below those that are of most importance to
you.
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Are there other values that were not included on this list? Write those down and rate them as
well.
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It is important to consider values that are of great importance to you when choosing a
major or a career.
Action plan
You’ve reviewed interests, skills and values to consider when making a decision. Now, it’s time to
make an action plan. Be sure to work together with your adviser on this plan.
Major(s) you wish to explore:
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Next steps
Deadlines
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Other tasks to consider:
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Notes:
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I have a follow-up appointment with my adviser on:
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OTHER STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU CHOOSE A MAJOR
Meet often with your adviser: ACS Advisers are available to meet with you as often as you like to help you
choose a major or career. We are open for drop-in every day. You can call 503-725-4005 or walk-in to schedule an
appointment.
Take an exploratory course for the majors you are considering: PSU has exploratory courses for many
programs. Here is the list of these courses.
Investigate the majors that interest you: Look at the courses that are required for the program. Are you excited
about them? Do you think they will help you in your life and in your career?
Take a career exploration class: UNST 195 Career Exploration is a 1credit hour course designed to help
students choose majors and careers. You will be spending time anyway trying to make these decisions—why not
receive college credit for it too?
Choose your University Studies courses carefully: Your ACS Adviser can help you select courses that will help
you learn about majors and also fill core requirements.
Explore ACS online resources: Helpful information about What Can You Do With a Degree in…… is available to
all PSU students.
Keep your options open: If you are trying to decide between two majors, select courses that are required for
both.
Turn one of your options into a minor: When trying to choose between majors, take courses that will fill major
and minor requirements for both. Then when you decide which of the two you want to be your major, your other
choice can easily be turned into a minor.
Find out requirements for majors that are selective and have additional applications and deadlines: Some
majors have limited enrollment and only accept a certain number of students each year. Find out what these
requirements are for the majors that interest you. Take the prerequisite courses and do well in them, so if you
decide to apply, you will be prepared.
Have a back-up plan: When applying to programs that have additional application requirements to get in, prepare
a back-up plan. There are often many ways to achieve your goals. ACS staff can help you.
Work with a plan—literally! : Part-time work, summer employment, internships, and volunteer work should all be
done with a plan. Use these opportunities to investigate areas of interest and to make contacts that will help further
your career goals.
Visit the Advising and Career Services (ACS): ACS has a lot of books on careers. Want to learn how to be an
FBI agent? ACS has information to help you! We offer numerous workshops throughout the year.
Attend a career decision-making workshop: ACS has workshops to help you choose majors and careers. There
is a small fee. After you complete the assessment, your results will be explained to you by ACS staff.
Job shadow: Thinking about a career but don’t know if you would like it? Try job shadowing. Find someone who
has the kind of job you want, and then ask if you can follow them around for a day or longer. Put yourself in his or
her place. Do you like what you see?
Informational interviewing: Find someone who is already working in the profession you are considering and ask
them for an interview. Here you can find a few questions to ask during an informational interview.
Pre-professional advising: Interested in pre-med, pre-dental, or health profession? Visit with an adviser in the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Call 503-725-3822. For pre-law advising, email Tim Garrison at
brtg@pdx.edu
Adopted from Brigham Young University, Majors consideration and strategies